Sclerosi multipla e funzionamento familiare: dati preliminari di un’indagine multicentrica sul territorio italiano

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. Depending on the location and extent of lesions, people diagnosed with MS may experience psychological symptoms capable of impairing daily life. There is no definitive cure for this condition yet, which negatively affects households with a parental couple member with MS, where it is common to see negative influence on both marital relationships and parental bonding. Starting from the general research project aimed at investigating these factors in said households, the present study reports the preliminary results of the survey that is still in progress, concerning only people with MS. Participants were asked to complete the following scales: the Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Short form of the Family Assessment Measure Third Edition (Brief FAM-III) and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). The final sample of 55 people with MS reported statistically lower scores on the DAS than the general population. In addition, at the HADS 44% and 40%, respectively, exceeded the cut-off about the manifestation of anxiety-depressive symptoms, and lower levels at the Brief FAM-III correlated with lower scores at the MSPSS and higher scores at the HADS. These results should be confirmed by analysis of the totality of data collected from each of the 13 MS centers currently involved in the general project.